The political world is in mourning today, an outspoken MP who served the Conservative Party, Brexit Party, Reform UK and was also a Member of the European Parliament.
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Dancing Granny Ann Widdecombes Hilarious Strictly Stories!
The political world is in mourning today following the death of Ann Widdecombe, an outspoken MP who served the Conservative Party, Brexit Party, Reform UK and w...
Yet in recent years, Ann reinvented herself as pop culture icon, making a name for herself in reality TV circles before her death at the age of 78.
So when I was tasked with interviewing Ann back in 2022, I didn't really know what to expect.
Sure, she had made me and millions of others laugh during her legendary stint on Strictly, but I'll admit that some of the comments she'd made in the past had raised a brow.
Indeed, Ann was known for her no-nonsense approach to politics and refusal to mince her words, famously defending gay conversion therapy, comparing Brexit to 'slaves against their owners', and converting to Catholicism after disagreeing with the Anglican church's decision to allow women priests.
So when the time came for me I was hardly surprised when Ann immediately brought up politics.
Remembering Ann Widdecombe: How the controversial MP won over the nation as Strictly's 'dancing granny' and even managed to get a smile out of Craig Revel Horwood (pictured with Anton Du Beke on the show in 2010)
In recent years, Ann reinvented herself as pop culture icon, making a name for herself in reality TV circles before her death at the age of 78 (pictured in Celebrity Big Brother in 2018)
We were speaking over Zoom, but Ann had struggled to log on using the details and passwords we had sent her, having increased cybersecurity following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
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When she eventually managed to join she immediately began making jokes about the Russians attempting to hack into her computer, noting what a mess the state of the world was in but that thankfully Strictly was on to lift the nation's spirits.
Strictly had proved to be a gamechanger for Ann, who reached week 10 of the competition with Anton Du Beke in 2010.
During her time on the show, Ann delighted viewers as she was spun - or perhaps more accurately pushed - around the dancefloor by Anton.
She quickly became a fan favourite with her entertaining and theatrical routines, instantly becoming a popular meme and gif on social media.
Her newfound pop culture status saw her snapped up for shows such as The Crystal Maze and Antiques Roadshow, and of course a stint on Celebrity Big Brother.
She continued to delight viewers during her time on the show, with her iconic moments including her stoic reaction while R&B singer Ginuwine performed his steamy hit Pony, and when she tried in vain to tame her hair with a hair straightener.
Yet my chat with Ann was focused on Strictly, with our interview taking place shortly before the 2022 finale, which ultimately saw Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał lift the Glitterball Trophy.
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Reflecting on her own stint on the show, Ann was suitably self-deprecating, admitting she had never watched the show before taking part but thought it would be a good laugh.
'It was a bit baffling actually, because this is supposed to be a dance competition and I said, "I can't dance",' she recalled. 'Not only can I not dance, but I'm tone deaf, so I couldn't hear what the music is telling me to do... but they [producers] said that didn't matter'.
During her time on Strictly, Ann delighted viewers as she was spun - or perhaps more accurately pushed - around the dancefloor by partner Anton
Ann - who never married or had children - revealed the fan had told her that she watched the show with her four-year-old child, who would always ask 'where is the granny, mummy? I want that granny to win!'
Ann added: 'My greatest achievement was making Craig laugh because in real life he's a lovely guy, but he does his hard man act. But I made him smile, he couldn't help himself'
As for her highlight on the show, Ann revealed it was the 'flying', with the MP, then 63, famously descending from the ceiling on a trapeze to open the tango, a move that saw her dubbed 'Starship Widdecombe' by judge Bruno Tonioli.
'I've got a terrible fear of heights so I wasn't actually enjoying it,' Ann recalled. 'But I knew that it was something different and would get us through the next round.
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'Indeed, Len Goodman said, "well, it all went very well until you landed!" but that was the only week I actually got a respectable mark from any of them.'
Ann continued: 'Actually my greatest achievement was making Craig laugh because in real life he's a lovely guy, but he does his hard man act.
'He does this ferocious, hard man bitterly critical act and therefore doesn't smile. But I made him smile on the second programme. He couldn't help himself.'
For my final question, I asked Ann if she had any advice for the 2022 finalists - Hamza, Fleur East, Molly Rainford and Helen Skelton.
In typical Ann fashion, she expressed that it was important not to take things too seriously.
'This is a dance competition, this is not a world war!' she laughed. 'Nobody is going to die. The future of mankind is not going to be knocked off its course because you lost Strictly Come Dancing.
'So I would say congratulations on getting this far, thoroughly enjoy it, and don't take it seriously.'
It's a mantra that Ann seemed to carry throughout her life.
As while she may have stirred up some controversies during her time in the public eye, she also lived a life that many of us aspire for - one without regrets.
